Immigrants enter the United States every day, choosing a grueling path fraught with paperwork, time commitments, court dates, lawyers, fees, work permits, legalities, fraud and often disappointment.Possible deportation after five years hereThere are few people who can attest to this fact better than one of Kirkland's own families, the Siddicks. Mason, Salma and Maleeka are Lake Washington High School graduates and Mrs. Amida Siddick is currently employed at the school. Five years ago, the Siddick family made the legal immigration to the United States from Zimbabwe. Today, the Siddicks face the very real threat of deportation from the place they now consider their home.In 2000, Robert Mugabe, the president of Zimbabwe, began what was called a "massive land redistribution campaign." The government seized thousands of acres of land from farmers, leaving thousands unemployed and homeless.'People are starving'Mrs. Siddick told us, "People are starving. I mean, people are eating roots from trees ... just to survive." Currently, 76 percent of the country is unemployed, and opposition against the government is growing.Despite this opposition, Zimbabwe is trapped in a circle of corruption. Any opposition to Mugabe faces persecution that includes rape, imprisonment or death. "This is a government that is killing its own people, whether it's by hunger or political reasons."
"So far it has been a pleasant experience," Chris Lambert said of his job as foreman responsible for sidewalks, signals and street striping improvements in Fremont. If pressed, his only gripe pertains to passers-by. "Space is really tight," Chris noted about Fremont. "There is not a lot of vacant space, period. When we've got machinery working, we try to keep an eye out," for pedestrians, cars, pets and bicycle riders. His crew tries to see, and foresee, all potential accidents. But it isn't always possible.Pedestrians bewareChris has had pedestrians walk right under suspended loads. "If they could keep an eye out, too..." Chris asks.In many ways Chris and his crew are our new neighbors. He works for Mowat, the contractor on the Circulation and Bridge Approach Project for Fremont. "We spend money locally," Chris explained, "My crew does tend to eat lunch" at area restaurants, cafés, coffee shops and P.C.C. "We do buy supplies around here," he said of White Cap, Ballard Hardware and Tacoma Screw."I find it a very interesting neighborhood," Chris said politely. He has reason to be diplomatic. "We're very much in the middle of the public," he admits. "I interact with the merchants quite a bit," and he commended them: "They've been very good to us."
About two years ago, I developed an illness that required not only my early retirement, but also made even everyday tasks like cooking difficult. And I enjoy cooking for my family and friends.Well, I sat down with a thud and asked myself what I was going to do now. Fortunately, I'd had a long career as both a hotel professional and as a special-event designer. Over my cooling cup of coffee, I thought back to all the special shortcuts, little-known techniques and secret ingredients I'd seen top chefs use to save time and effort and still create an elegant meal.I suddenly realized I could transfer those little-known cooking secrets to my kitchen, saving strength and money while getting more free time. So I did, and this column, at the suggestion of friends, is the result: a place where each month I'll share fun, easy, different (and inexpensive) recipes with you. Whether you are a busy professional, a stay-at-home parent with more than enough to do or someone just looking for something new and creative to share with family and friends, I hope you will enjoy these innovative recipe ideas. And, yes, every recipe has been tested and works just fine.Ana Kinkaid, a Green Lake resident, would love to hear your comments at ilovetocookbut@hotmail.comTry something different this year when you think Irish. Surprise your friends with potato candy. This candy is actually made with potatoes and even looks like miniature taters, but tastes like an expensive sweet from an exclusive store.
An evening designed to bring local artists and the community together, that could feature anything from independent films, poetry readings, arts lectures, art exhibitions and performing arts, has been envisioned with the Haller Lake Arts Council's new monthly series, Arts Live, at Haller Lake Community Club.It has been years since the club, located at 12579 Densmore Ave. N., has been used for performance arts, other than the dance classes that are currently taught there, noted Desiree Smith, a trustee of the club and a member of the arts council. The community and artists of north Seattle are the council's main focus, but the series is also open to artists from beyond the area.
Neatly stacked rows showcasing sprinkled, glazed and powdered doughnuts welcome customers into Mighty-O Donuts on North 55th Street in Wallingford. "People love doughnuts. That's what got me into the business," owner Ryan Kellner said. "One of our more humble goals is to just give people a real doughnut." In creating the company, Kellner said he was guided by the desire to promote and produce organic food. As a business owner, he wanted to run a company with strong values.Six years after selling his first doughnut at the U-District Street Fair, Kellner said the company has never sacrificed these values: "It was a slow learning process, but with a goal like ours I think we'll go far."
Phil Lane Jr., the new chief executive officer of the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation (UIATF), has big plans for the organization. An internationally renown and award-winning activist and educator for indigenous peoples, Lane said he is looking forward to the local, regional, statewide, national and international growth of the UIATF.Appointed to the position in December after serving as interim CEO since last summer, he replaces former United Indians CEO Michelle Sanidad, who has taken the position of Chief Financial Officer with the organization.In a way, it's a return to his roots for Lane, a compact 61-year-old who gives the impression that he's in perpetual motion even when he's just sitting down.
From Vietnamese pop music to 50 Cent, from The Jetsons to The Sopranos, "you name it, we either have it or we try and get it," said Valerie Garrett-Turner, interim manager at the University and Wallingford branch libraries. Because they serve such a wide variety of patrons, the University Library's nine-member staff works hard to meet everyone's needs. The library's upcoming remodel will only make the goal easier. An upcoming remodelThe University branch, which is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, first opened in 1910. Watson and Cornelia Allen donated the land for the library, and Andrew Carnegie donated the $38,935 for construction. The building was designed by Joseph Cote and W. Marbury Somervell, who worked on a majority of the Carnegie-era libraries, sticking with a similar style for all. According to Garrett-Turner, the library underwent a $724, 811 renovation in 1986 and is now in the process of an approximately $759,000 remodel.
One Reel summer concerts at Gas Works Park have been put off until next year because objections and a lawsuit filed by Friends of Gas Works Parks made it difficult for the non-profit promotion company to book acts and line up sponsors, according to Seattle Parks and Recreation.The lawsuit calls for the city to conduct an Environmental Impact Study before the concert series is approved by the city. But the city has never done an EIS for events and it doesn't plan to do one in this case, said Parks spokeswoman Dewey Potter.EIS should be requiredNo one from Friends of Gas Works Park returned calls for comment, but the group's attorney, Dave Brickland, said an EIS should be required under the State Environmental Policy Act. SEPA often triggers environmental reviews for building projects, and the same approach should apply to events, he said.
Playwright Tanja Renee Sofia Pineda is a regular at Richard Hugo House. The raised-in-Texas writer, who settled in Seattle some time ago, is mounting her third play at Hugo House in the last three years. Previously, work includes 2004's "1938: The Horse" and 2005's "One Flea Spare."With "One Fallen Leaf," her most recent work, Pineda goes back to a time when she lived in Connecticut. The New England winter remained stuck in her memory - not for the cold, but for the political discussions taking place in the community."It was the early 1990s and Rush Limbaugh was really big. I remember my step-dad used to make me watch Limbaugh's TV show and there was this 'Clinton countdown' going on," said Pineda. In the coffee shops around town, Pineda saw "blue-collar guys" debating politics over coffee. "Everyone just seemed much more politically aware than now."These memories fueled the story of the Whitmans and their less-than-typical holiday season is the focus of "One Fallen Leaf." Part of the play's conflict comes from the rising use of "family values" to define people's political stances. And that, said Pineda, led to her thinking about what defined family and her creation of the Whitmans.
In recent days I've become aware of important choices Seattle's citizens and leaders will need to make over the next year concerning the city's priorities. With the recovery of our economy we now confront multiple demands on the public purse. We must choose whether to tear down or renovate the viaduct, ensure Key Arena remains viable without giving away the store to the Sonics, insist Seattle Public Schools solve their financial problems without abandoning public education, and make certain greater density in the city center doesn't neglect downtown public amenities, like affordable housing, open spaces and community centers. How we choose to spend limited funds will say a lot about who we are as a people and the values we espouse.
Walking through the Zine Archive and Publishing Project (ZAPP) and passing shelves upon shelves of catalogued independent publications, one feels like every example represents a case and a victory for free speech. Stenciled paintings depicting individuals in various stages of publishing speckle the walls, along with production tips and inspirational maxims.ZAPP is an independent library and publishing space on Capitol Hill. Located in the vibrantly painted and bizarrely decorated basement of the Richard Hugo House - a non-profit literary center that provides resources and support for writers - ZAPP provides individuals the means to both browse and produce zines. For those unfamiliar with zines, Raleigh Briggs, a ZAPP volunteer and UW English major, offers her definition:"A zine is a work of literature, comic or art that is self-published, usually photocopied and distributed through the post or distribution center," said Briggs, who has spent the past two years volunteering at ZAPP. "[At ZAPP] we don't take any zines that have been sponsored by a company - it has to be a direct self-expression of the writer."ZAPP is also the only library of its kind in Washington state.
With the fathers portrayed in sitcoms over the past 40 years, dad was often a figure to be feared: the strong, silent breadwinner who left the home early in the morning to a mysterious job and returned at night. Fathers were bumbling fools in the nurturing department, quick to discipline, and stingy with praise. Society often gives fathers, and fatherhood, lip service, and the vital role they play is overlooked. But research shows that fathers play many important roles in the lives of their children, including nurturing, modeling, moral and spiritual development, and providing a sense of stability. In south Seattle fatherhood is alive and well, as revealed by the following four fathers, all with a different fathering style.
Phil Lane Jr., the new chief executive officer of the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation (UIATF), has big plans for the organization.An internationally renown and award-winning activist and educator for indigenous peoples, Lane said he is looking forward to the local, regional, statewide, national and international growth of the UIATF.Appointed to the position in December after serving as interim CEO since last summer, he replaces former United Indians CEO Michelle Sanidad, who has taken the position of chief financial officer with the organization.
"I think it's a good idea to write about a kid," says Styles W., age 9. "Everything's always about grownups."Styles, who's had an exotic journey toward becoming a Magnolia kid, has a direct, open gaze-and a very cool haircut. It is asymmetrical, and the longer bangs are dyed bright red."Over Christmas I visited some relatives in Las Vegas," he says. "They own a salon. I got to have my hair done there."When Styles was in Las Vegas, he saw an abandoned blue-and-red bike with a loose chain. He kept his eye on it all day, and when no one had claimed it by nightfall, he took it home. A grownup in his family fixed the chain, and now the bike is his."I have three bikes now," he says. "One here, that one in Las Vegas and another in Singapore." He inventories other wheels he owns in those places: scooters, in-line skates and healies.Styles was born Nov. 11, 1996, in Singapore. His father Ken was born in the United States, and his mother Gillian is Singaporean. Ken, a building consultant, had gone to Singapore to help construct technical buildings for various corporations.
When is the last time you checked your home insurance?If you're like me, and most of America, you get this annual update packet from your agent, usually indicating an increase in the premiums. Behind the policy summary are pages of insurance gibberish that makes little or no sense to anyone.You may think you have full-replacement coverage on your home and personal property. You may think you're covered in case of an earthquake, flood or landslide-a pretty big deal in the Northwest, not so big in Nebraska.Well, you really need to read the fine print, or find someone who understands the insurance industry lingo, because in the event of a disaster, you could be in for a big surprise.